Deciding whether to upgrade to Shopify Plus isn’t always a clear choice. It’s tempting to go for it, especially with perks like better B2B tools, managing multiple stores from one place, a customizable checkout process, and lower transaction fees.
But let’s be real—if you’re already using Shopify Advanced, you might wonder if moving to Shopify Plus is worth the cost. Considering the time and effort required to switch, the decision becomes even more challenging.
As a certified Shopify Plus Partner, we’ve helped many ambitious brands simplify their processes, go global with localized online stores, and increase sales with tailored checkouts and smooth B2B setups. We focus on tailoring Shopify Plus to meet your specific needs.
So, here we are, ready to explain everything you need to know before you upgrade to Shopify Plus. In this blog, you’ll find answers to questions like when to switch, why Shopify Plus might (or might not) be the right choice for you, and what to expect during the change.
Please stick with us for a clear guide on keeping your current setup or jumping to something new.
What is Shopify Plus?
Shopify Plus is an advanced e-commerce platform designed for high-growth businesses. It gives you more flexibility, powerful tools, and dedicated support to scale your store. While it has the same core dashboard as Shopify, it comes with extra features like:
- Customizable checkout for better conversions
- High-speed performance for handling more traffic
- Exclusive apps and integrations
- 24/7 priority support
Shopify Plus helps businesses boost sales, manage large order volumes, and build a fully customized store. It offers more than most platforms, making it a strong choice for brands wanting to stay ahead.
However, Shopify Plus isn’t for everyone. Standard Shopify has everything you need to run and grow your store if you’re a small business. Shopify Plus is best for businesses that need advanced features to overcome scaling challenges.
Our expert team is here to help! Start your Shopify journey with the right platform and take your business to the next level.
When Should You Upgrade to Shopify Plus?
Growing an online store isn’t always easy. You might notice your website slowing down during big sales, your team struggling with Shopify’s account limits, or your checkout process feeling too simple for your brand. Maybe handling multiple stores is becoming expensive, or you need better tools to sell wholesale.
Here are some clear signs it’s time to upgrade your Shopify plan to Shopify Plus:
- Your site crashes during high-traffic events – Big sales bring in many customers, but your site struggles to keep up.
- Your team has outgrown Shopify’s 15-account limit – More people need access, but Shopify’s lower plans won’t allow it.
- Transaction fees are eating into profits – Lowering fees could save your business a lot of money.
- Your checkout process is too basic – You want a custom, branded checkout experience to boost conversions.
- You’re growing a B2B or wholesale business – Shopify Plus makes managing large bulk orders easier.
- You’re expanding to new countries or regions – Selling globally? You need multi-store capabilities.
- You need deeper analytics and reporting – More advanced data helps optimize your store’s performance.
- Repetitive tasks take too long – Automating workflows can save time and improve efficiency.
- You need higher API limits and advanced integrations – Scaling your business requires more flexibility.
- If any of these sound familiar, Shopify Plus might be your choice. I’m not sure if it’s the right time. Let’s chat and find the best solution for your business!
Top 5 Reasons to Upgrade Your Shopify Theme
Upgrading from Shopify Advanced (or lower plans) to Shopify Plus is more than a new design. It gives you better tools to manage high sales and meet customer demands. Plus, you can get discounts with a Shopify partner, making the upgrade even more valuable.
If your business is growing fast, now might be the right time to switch!
Optimize Speed for a Faster Shopping Experience
Speed matters in eCommerce! A study by NitroPack and Google found that pages loading in 3 seconds or less get 60% more views. Even a tiny 0.1-second speed boost can increase sales by 8.4%.
When you upgrade Shopify to Shopify Plus, your store runs faster, improving customer experience and boosting conversions.
Faster Speed for Different Regions
Shopify Plus improves website speed for customers in different countries. It allows you to create multiple stores hosted on local servers for faster load times. On the other hand, Shopify Advanced only supports one store for all regions, which can slow down the experience for international shoppers.
Faster and Smoother Checkout
With Shopify Plus, checkout is hosted separately from your main store. This reduces server load and ensures faster processing, even during high sales periods. Shopify Advanced doesn’t offer this feature, making checkout slower for busy stores.
Make Checkout Simple & Personalized
Checkout is the most critical part of online shopping. A slow or confusing process can frustrate customers and lead to abandoned carts. When upgrading to Shopify Plus, you have complete control over creating a fast, smooth, customized checkout experience.
Custom Checkout Design & Branding
With Shopify Plus, you get exclusive access to the checkout liquid file. This lets you fully customize your checkout page—change colors, fonts, and layouts to match your brand. You can add your logo, seasonal images, trust badges, and progress bars to make checkout more engaging.
Add Custom Checkout Fields
Shopify Plus allows you to add extra fields for essential details like gift messages, delivery instructions, or engraving notes at checkout. This helps improve order accuracy and gives you valuable customer insights.
Join Shopify with partner benefits and get expert support for a smoother upgrade!
Easily Manage Your High-Volume Store
When your store gets colossal traffic and big sales, Shopify Plus keeps everything running smoothly. It can handle:
Unlimited SKUs (but each product can have up to 100 variants). Need more? Use apps to extend the limit.
Massive traffic spikes with up to 80,000 requests per second—outstanding for flash sales and viral products.
Fast checkouts, even during peak sales, with over 10,000 checkouts per minute.
Automate Tasks & Save Time
Merchants who upgrade to Shopify Plus can use Shopify Flow and Launchpad to automate daily tasks. This helps stores work smarter by:
- Sending alerts when stock is low.
- Tagging VIP customers for special offers.
- Detecting fraud automatically to reduce manual work.
With Shopify Plus, you can focus on growth while automation takes care of the rest!
Make B2B Selling Simple & Smooth
B2B buyers need custom pricing, bulk orders, and flexible payments. Managing all this can be challenging, but everything becomes easy when you start your Shopify journey with Shopify Plus!
Custom Profiles for Businesses
With Shopify Plus, you can set up unique profiles for each business. Add custom payment terms, shipping options, and access rules to ensure buyers have a smooth, hassle-free experience.
Safe & Secure Customer Accounts
B2B sales need extra security. Shopify Plus lets you verify buyers before they see wholesale prices. This keeps your business information safe and allows only trusted customers to access special pricing.
Show the Right Products to the Right Buyers
Shopify Plus lets you personalize catalogs so each business sees only the products, prices, and discounts meant for them. This removes confusion and makes buying faster and easier.
Flexible & Easy Payment Options
Make transactions quick and stress-free. Shopify Plus offers vaulted credit cards, invoice payments, and custom payment terms so buyers can pay however they prefer.
Make Marketing Simple & Effective
When you upgrade to Shopify Plus, marketing becomes more straightforward and robust. With tools like Shopify Audiences and advanced reports, you can reach the right people and grow your sales faster.
Find the Right Customers
Shopify Audiences helps you target shoppers who are ready to buy so you don’t waste money on ineffective ads.
Exclusive for Shopify Plus users in the U.S. and Canada
Create audience lists based on your products
Send lists directly to Google and Facebook ads
Launch campaigns quickly and boost conversions
Get Clear Insights
Advanced reports allow you to see what’s working and make better decisions.
- Track your best-selling products and top ads
- Understand customer behavior to improve marketing
- Find trends in different markets for better targeting
- Compare ad results with sales to spend smarter
How to Upgrade to Shopify Plus
Are you considering upgrading to Shopify Plus but unsure where to start? The process is smooth and hassle-free if you already have a Shopify store. Shopify Plus gives you powerful features to help your business grow.
Follow this simple step-by-step guide to upgrade with confidence.
Step 1: Back Up Your Store Before Upgrading
Before making any changes, you must back up your data to avoid losing valuable information. Here are three easy ways to do it:
- CSV Export – Use Shopify’s built-in tool to export products, customers, and orders. This is the quickest and easiest backup method.
- Shopify API – If you run a large store, developers can use Shopify’s API to create a full backup. This offers more control but requires technical knowledge.
- Third-Party Apps – Tools like Rewind provide automatic, ongoing backups to keep your data safe.
- This step ensures a smooth transition when you Join Shopify with me and move to Shopify Plus!
Step 2: Reach Out to Shopify Plus
To start your upgrade, contact Shopify’s team. They will guide you through the process and explain pricing, features, and benefits.
This is a great time to ask important questions about:
- Managing multiple stores efficiently
- Expanding into wholesale or B2B sales
- Customizing the checkout experience
Their team will ensure you understand everything before making the switch.
Step 3: Complete Your Shopify Plus Upgrade
Once you’re ready, sign up for Shopify Plus. The transition is smooth, and Shopify will upgrade your store within 24 hours.
Here’s what happens next:
- Fill out the required details and confirm your upgrade
- Shopify will handle the technical process for you
- You’ll receive a confirmation email once it’s done
Final Thoughts
Switching to Shopify Plus is brilliant if your business grows and needs more advanced tools. Whether handling high order volumes, selling B2B, or managing multiple stores, Shopify Plus gives you the features to scale smoothly.
With lower transaction fees, custom checkout options, and automation tools, it helps businesses work smarter and sell more.
At Grow With Shopify, we’ve helped many brands successfully upgrade. Whether you’re ready to make the switch or just exploring, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
